Rocio Lozano-Knowlton speaks with George Alger about the MERITO Foundation, which is an environmental nonprofit operating from northern Santa Barbara County down through Ventura and into parts of Kern County.
Their core mission is to protect the ocean and coastal environments by empowering youth and their communities to “think globally, act locally.”
Educational Strategy & Field Programs
Tailored School Outreach: Priority is given to underserved youth, tailoring educational programs to specific community and school needs.
Hands-on Science & Restoration: Students engage in real scientific monitoring, habitat restoration, and stewardship projects, such as restoring wetlands at Ormand Beach or monitoring water quality along the Santa Clara River with The Nature Conservancy.
Outdoor Field Experiences: Programs range from coastal observation to overnight camping, kayaking, snorkeling, and whale watching at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.
Entrepreneurship & Solutions: Introduces students to green/blue economy entrepreneurship, encouraging them to create solutions for waste, water, and energy reduction.
Supporting Educators & Empowering Youth
Teacher Training & Standards-Based Curricula: The foundation provides educators with 75 custom lesson plans aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and connects classrooms with active university and agency scientists (e.g., NOAA, UC Santa Barbara).
Community Science: Students actively contribute data to research projects (e.g., marine debris tracking, intertidal monitoring, bird surveys), giving them a sense of purpose and pride.
Impact on Students: Fosters hope and problem-solving skills in young people, inspiring many former participants to pursue college degrees and careers in environmental science and policy.
TV broadcast week beginning 08/02/26
Producer: George Alger
Sponsor: NONPROFIT FIRE, Google Ad Grants Community Building NonProfitFire.org
Sponsor: SKYWORKS MARKETING, Performance Advertising SkyworksMarketing.com